cut the Gordian knot

English

Verb

cut the Gordian knot (third-person singular simple present cuts the Gordian knot, present participle cutting the Gordian knot, simple past and past participle cut the Gordian knot)

1. (intransitive) To solve a seemingly intractable problem by using a simple solution that is unconstrained by the assumptions that underpin the usual attempts to solve that problem.

Translations

Translations

• Czech: rozetnout gordický uzel
• Finnish: avata Gordionin solmu
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• French: trancher le nœud gordien (fr)